VictoryLand attorney responds to raid

The following is a statement released by Joe Espy, attorney for VictoryLand and its owner Milton McGregor, in response to a search warrant that was served at the Macon County casino on Tuesday.

"No matter how one feels about legal gaming, this is a sad day for Alabama. Whether you favor or oppose gambling, it is important for everyone in Alabama to know the following:

* No court and no expert have ever ruled electronic bingo to be illegal in Macon County.

* No court and no expert have ever ruled that the machines used at VictoryLand are illegal gaming devices. Indeed, the only experts to testify say they are bingo machines, not 'slot machines' as the attorney general claims.

* The Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the decision of the circuit judge not to sign a warrant after he found that there was no probable cause for signing it.

* The circuit judge forced to sign the warrant carefully considered the evidence. Unfortunately, he was forced to sign the warrant which we respectfully believe is a dangerous precedent.

* Last year, a federal judge found as a matter of law that opponents of legal bingo are motivated by partisan politics and race. Today's actions prove that they will do anything to try to impose their politics on the state. They ignore our laws and rules, trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens and businesses.

We will fight to preserve the rights of our client in every possible venue. VictoryLand has done nothing wrong and would be delighted to have a fair and just hearing on the issues in this matter. After today's action, it is an open question whether that is possible.

I should also make clear that the lawsuit against the Poarch Creek Indian casino filed today is a smokescreen and a waste of taxpayer money. As he knows, the Alabama attorney general has no jurisdiction over Native American gaming. In the short term, all this is going to do is send the customers of VictoryLand to the Poarch Creek Indian facility in Wetumpka."

- posted by Sebastian Kitchen

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VictoryLand attorney responds to raid

The following is a statement released by Joe Espy, attorney for VictoryLand and its owner Milton McGregor, in response to a search warrant that was served at the Macon County casino on Tuesday.

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